Ground Turkey Spinach Pasta
This Ground Turkey Spinach Pasta is a healthy one pot dinner! It's made with gluten free orzo, Italian seasoning, lemon, and Parmesan cheese.
Servings: 6
Calories: 445kcal
Ingredients
- 6 cloves garlic
- 2 shallots or 1 small onion
- 2 Tbsp. olive oil split
- 1 lb. ground turkey or Italian turkey sausage
- 1 tsp. Italian seasoning
- ¼ tsp. red pepper flakes optional
- 1 tsp. kosher salt split
- ½ tsp. pepper
- 12 oz. gluten free orzo pasta or regular orzo pasta if not gluten free
- 4 packed cups spinach or leafy greens of choice
- 4 cups low sodium chicken broth
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese grated
- 1 lemon zest and juice
- fresh basil or herbs of choice
Instructions
- Mince 6 cloves of garlic and 2 shallots (or 1 small onion).
- Roughly chop 4 packed cups of fresh spinach (or leafy greens of choice such as kale, Swiss chard, collards, or arugula).
- Place a large skillet on the stove top and heat to medium high. Add 1 Tbsp. olive oil to the skillet.
- After the olive oil is heated, add 1 lb. of ground turkey to the skillet. Add 1 tsp. Italian seasoning, ¼ tsp. crushed red pepper flakes, and ½ tsp. each kosher salt and pepper to the turkey.
- Sauté the ground turkey for 8-10 minutes, breaking it apart as it cooks. Once the turkey is fully cooked, remove it from the skillet and set aside.
- Add another Tbsp. olive oil to the skillet. Once heated, add the minced garlic and shallots. Sauté for 1-2 minutes, stirring often.
- Add 12 oz. gluten free orzo pasta (or regular orzo pasta if not gluten free) to the skillet and sauté for 1-2 minutes, stirring often. This helps to brown the pasta slightly, creating a slightly toasty flavor.
- Pour 4 cups of low sodium chicken broth along with another ½ tsp. kosher salt into the skillet and stir until combined. Turn the heat to high and bring the pasta to a boil. Once boiling, reduce to a low boil and cook for 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Once the orzo is al dente and the texture of the pasta creamy, reduce the heat to low and add the chopped spinach (or greens of choice), the cooked turkey, ½ cup of shredded Parmesan cheese (or cheese of choice), and the zest of 1 lemon using a Microplane or small grater.
- Fold all of the ingredients together just until combined. Continue to cook on low heat for 1-2 minutes, or until the spinach has wilted and the cheese melted.
- To Serve: Squeeze some lemon juice over the top of the pasta. Add some more grated Parmesan cheese and freshly torn basil leaves (or herbs of choice).
Notes
Nutrition information is based on 93% lean ground turkey.
Italian turkey sausage or ground chicken may be used in place of turkey.
For the best texture, make sure to cook the pasta just until al dente. Overcooking may result in a mushy texture.
Nutrition
Serving: 2cups | Calories: 445kcal | Carbohydrates: 50g | Protein: 28g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 62mg | Sodium: 561mg | Potassium: 519mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 264IU | Vitamin C: 11mg | Calcium: 162mg | Iron: 3mg